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Synthetic Materials Provide Durable, Safe Parachutes for Skydiving
from: Maxx Sports GuidesIf you want to skydive, parachutes are essential. Every skydiving student jumper must be well familiar with parachutes before learning other necessary skills in this extreme sport.
Skydiving parachutes or simply parachutes are the most essential piece of equipment needed in this sport. Even if every other gadget and piece of gear is available, they're all useless without parachutes.
A parachute is generally made of a special fabric that is resistant to strong winds. The parachute also acts to slow the movement of an attached object as it descends.
The Drogue, another type of parachute, is used to support much heavier objects such as vehicles being dropped from an aircraft to the ground. This type of parachute is only used on rare and special occasions.
Silk Replaced by Nylon
Silk fabric was used to make the first parachute. Advancing technology has result in many improvements, including the materials used in parachutes.
During World War II, nylon fabric replaced silk fabric in parachutes, which are proven to be much stronger compared to the old material.
Currently, skydiving parachutes are made of low-stretch fabrics. These fabrics are carefully researched to provide stronger and more durable material for a parachute. Most materials are synthetic-based with different components.
New Synthetic Materials
Dacron, also known as polyethylene terephtalate, is made from a thermoplastic polymer substance, which is also used to produce synthetic fibres. Beverage and food containers, and sails for sailboats are also made from this synthetic material.
Spectra, also popularly known as Dyneema, is a synthetic-based fibre made of "ultra high molecular weight polyethylene.
This fabric, considered fifteen times stronger than steel, is used in the manufacture of bullet proof vests. Other uses include bow strings, fishing lines, sails, and material used for mountain climbing.
Kevlar is actually a brand name for the material produced by Du Pont Company, the well-known chemical and synthetics manufacturer. Kevlar fabric is made from an extremely strong fibre also known as aramid. It's known to be highly fire resistant.
Kevlar, which has been around since the 1970s, is used by the military in the production of bullet proof materials.
Another synthetic fabric is Vectran, which is made with "liquid crystal polymer". This fabric can withstand high temperature and resist the effects of moisture. The material can also be used as protection against ultraviolet rays, and prevent the flow of water.
All of these characteristics make Vectran an excellent material in the production of parachutes.
As modern technology continues to advance, new materials may be developed to make parachutes even more durable and safer.
Military Skydiving News